If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you...

Well there were two major leaks in the roof that had caused a lot of internal damage, For example this small hole in the zinc flashing...

led to this!

and, over the years, two missing tiles meant this

One of the things I'd been dreading was to check how successful my hypnotherapy had been when it came to climbing to the top of the ridge on the main roof. I can theoretically begin to learn how to do any building skill but you can't learn how not to be scared witless at the prospect of challenging a great fear. I was feeling shaky at the top of the scaffolding and the roof ladder seemed to stretch ever upwards. I literally couldn't afford not to succeed so I took a deep breath and...

I DID IT!

Not only that but I completed my first proper repair to the roof...tiles off, sarking replaced and then slates trimmed, cut, shaped and perforated for the new copper nails

not bad for a beginner, you can't see the edges of the repair

so you can see I felt justifiably pleased with myself. No more demons and a job which now looks like it didn't need doing. We're well on the way to wind and watertight now, the next trip in September will be to see to the doors and fit the two new windows.